ABSTRACT
A disaster is often attributed to an ‘Act of God’. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined a disaster as any occurrence that causes physical damage, economic disruption, loss of human life and deterioration in health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the community area. An objective study of the characteristics of the physical force of an earthquake and the resultant damage has produced a change in perception regarding the issues that pertain to coping with the effect of disasters. The focus now is on public and professional participation in assessing risks and developing disaster-resistant communities.
